Jessica Hume, National Bureau

OTTAWA — The finance minister says Canada continues to assess the potential impacts of sanctions against agricultural and other food products imposed last week by Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has halted the import of food products from Western nations that have imposed sanctions against his country.

"The big picture is our country has principled foreign policy and is standing with the Ukrainian people as they defend their democracy and sovereignty against aggressive action by Russia," Finance Minister Joe Oliver told reporters Friday.